‘A’ Team captain Robin reports on the 27th October fixture vs. Bearsden A:

Bearsden baffled!

Glasgow Montrose A team put up stiff resistance against visitors Bearsden A who were last season’s division one runners up. Out-graded for the second match in a row on 7 of 8 boards a creditable 4-4 draw was the final score. Bearsden took an early point winning on bottom board against new player Babak but Montrose fought back with wins from father and son pairing of Ruairidh and Jonathan. Daniel found Scotland’s Olympiad team number one Andrew Greet too hot to handle. Norman and Bahloul produced creditable draws to bring the score to 3-3. Sam was unfortunate to lose on time before the first time control. This left me for the second match in a row having to win with the last game to finish to square a tie. In the end I mopped up all the pawns to force the concession. 4-4 a wonderful result.

Glasgow Montrose chess club will restart for the 2014-15 season on Referendum day: Thursday 18th September. Hope to see you at 7:30pm at our new(ish) location at The Minerva Club, 59 Burnbank Terrace, Glasgow G20 6UQ.

The last match of the season was icing on the cake as Glasgow Montrose eased past the bottom club East Kilbride B 4.5 – 1.5. Montrose had to give up a default on bottom board but otherwise there were easy wins for Edd, Sam, Bahlool and David. I struggled on top board to hold the draw.

Montrose A

28/3/13

East Kilbride B

R Templeton

0.5 – 0.5

J Robertson

E Ferry

1 – 0

S Gray

S Collins

1 – 0

A Howie

B Voghouey

1 – 0

S McKay

D Reid

1 – 0

A MacGregor

def

0 – 1

T Jose

4.5 – 1.5

The final table has Glasgow Montrose clear winners of the Second Division with 17 points winning all matches bar one and gaining promotion to Division 1 after a magnificent season. Glasgow Montrose B team fought hard during the season but stay in the division 2 due to changes in league structure.

Betwixt cup and lip

Montrose A managed to stumble their way to the Div 2 title with a 3 – 3 draw. David had a quick crush and Norman drew fairly quickly. Sam and I managed to chuck pieces in the opening. Bahlool took his time to win for a change simplifying to a winning endgame. It all came down to the last game. The tension was rising. Beni was two pawns down when his opponent took off the rooks to leaving an opposite colour bishop ending which he could not win as the position became blocked. Game and match all square. Dalmuir put up a good fight.

Our ‘A’ team correspondent Robin Templeton delivers a round-up of the team’s February matches:

Close encounter

Shettleston B came close to causing an upset in Montrose’s quest for the top spot in division two. Montrose won 3.5 – 2.5 away. Illness and unavailability cost a default on Board six. Newcomer Bob Reid negotiated a tricky opening to find his way to a draw. Montrose’s three wins came in a similar fashion with opponents dropping pieces. My own game came to an abrupt halt after a simple pawn move attacked a knight which had no retreat square. David built up pressure even though opposite coloured bishops were involved. A discovered attack picked up a piece. Sam found a win by pin to pick up a knight and then finished with a mating attack. Bahlool tried hard but was unable to save his game.

Shettleston B

Montrose A

P Anderson

0 – 1

R Templeton

W Toland

0 – 1

S Collins

J McGreechin

1 – 0

B Voghouey

I Robertson

0 – 1

D Reid

M Rogan

0.5 – 0.5

R Reid

T Beattie

1 – 0

default

2.5 – 3.5

Going Up

Glasgow Montrose clinched promotion to Division 1 next season with a 5 – 1 win over unbeaten Crowwood A putting one hand on the Division 2 title. The only quick finish happened on Board six where Bahlool threw pawns forward opening lines to get successfully at the king. In a complicated position, my opponent overlooked a sacrifice that cost him a piece. Edd built up slow pressure moving relentlessly up the board tying his opponent in knots. Beni was always in trouble from the opening and the loss of the exchange proved too big a handicap. Norman managed to reach an ending a knight up and coolly converted. Last game to finish was a comedy of errors. Sam lost a knight early on but kept in the game to reach an ending still a piece down. In the ensuing time trouble, his opponent missed two mates in one and then lost the thread completely shipping a rook and bishop before losing on time.